Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare has ruled out cuts to military numbers to help the government achieve a budget surplus.

Speaking at the Land Warfare Conference in Melbourne, Mr Clare said the Gillard government wanted to avoid repeating the “hollowing out’’ of the Australian Defence Force which followed the Vietnam War.

“Despite the savings made in the budget, we have made it clear there will be no reduction in personnel – in army, navy or air force,’’ Mr Clare said. Earlier Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia would send hundreds of military personnel to Afghanistan to assist with the removal of $2.8 billion of equipment before withdrawal of most Australian forces by year’s end.